Switch



J. B. REPLOGLE Sept. 28 1926.

SWITCH Filed Jun -11, 191a INVENTDR htthltt JAMES B. REPLOGLE, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0 GENERAL MOTORS COBPOTIQN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

SWITCH.

Application filed June 11,

This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly to starting switches for controlling the operation of electric starting devices for automobile engines.

The principal objects of the present invention are to. provide a simple, strong switch which can bemanufactured at a relatively low cost, and toso arrange the parts that the switch may be made compact without danger of short circuiting the posts or wiring connected therewith,

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying -drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view ofa switch embodying the present invention, said section being taken on the line 1--1 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the switch;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the switch shown in Fig. 1, certain parts being shown in section, said section being taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an edge view of the lining memher for the sidewalls of the switch housing;

' Fig. 5 is an end view of the same;

Fig. 6 is a side view of one of the lining members for an end wall of the housing; and

Fig. 7 is an edge view of the same.

Referring to the drawings, the switch comprises a housing 20 having a flange 21, parallel end walls 22 and side walls 23 which extend in converging relation from the flange 21. The side walls 23 are apertured to provide for the admission of non-conduc ing washers 24. The side walls 23 are lin by a non-conducting linin'g member 25 provided with apertures 26 which are arranged in alignmentwith the apertures in washers 24. Additional non-conducting strips 27 are provided with apertures arranged in alignment with apertures 26.

Terminal bolts 30, having flat rectangular heads 31 extend through the holes referred to in members 24, 25 and 27. As these bolts are preferabl made of steel the heads 31 are provided wit C-shaped contacts 32 of good conducting material such as copper. The

1919. Serial No. 303,449.

contacting surface of the contact 32 is substantially normal to the axis of the bolt 30 which supports it. These contacts 32 extend over the faces of said bolt heads 31 and around parallel opposite side edges and then are bent in under said bolt heads. Non-conducting strips 33 are provided with apertures through which bolts 30 may pass, and these strips 33 are arranged with portions thereof extending along the exterior of the housing side walls 23 in converging relation. The outer free ends34 of these strips 33 extend in parallel touching relation in order to provide a non-conducting partition be I tween the outer ends of the terminal bolts 30. This partition assists in preventing ac.- cidental short circuit of the terminals 30. Additional non-conducting. washers 35 are provided, and clamping nuts 36 engaging screw threaded portions of terminal bolts 30 serve to clamp said bolts, the insulating members described, and the contact members 32 in position as shown in Fig. 1. Nuts 37 cooperate with bolts 30 to clamp in position the wires, not shown, with which the switch is connected.

The housing 20 is provided with a cover or base plate provided with an aperture '41. Said cover 40 supports a guide sleeve 42 arranged in concentric relation with said aperture 41. A plunger 43 extends through said sleeve 42 and through said aperture 41, and carries at its upper end a cup-shaped head 44 which is arranged to telescopically engage the upper end of the sleeve 42.

Plunger 43 is provided with a reduced lower end portion 45 over which is mounted a loosely fitting non-conducting sleeve 46. A relatively rigid movable contact or contact bridging member 47 and non-conducting washers 48 are apertured so as to fit loosely.

over said sleeve 46. A metal washer 49 is also mounted on sleeve 46 and normally bears against cover 40. A metallic washer 50 is secured upon the lower end of plunger 43, as by riveting over the end of saidplunger, and said washer 50 serves to maintain members 46, 47, 48 and 49 in position upon reduced portion 45 and cooperates with said members to prevent withdrawal of. plunger 43. Sleeve 46 is shorter than the reduced portion 45, therefore the sleeve 46 and contact 47 may ing and shifting endwise with respect to the plunger 43 when said contact 47 engages upon the contacts 32. In this manner a good electrical contact is assured without necessitating accurate alignment of the plunger 43 with contact 47 and contacts 32.

A spring 52 is interposed between the head 44 and the cover 40, and serves normally to maintain contact 47 out of engagement with contacts 32 as shown in Fig. 1. A

Referring to. Fig.3, it will be noticed that the width of contact 47, contacts 32, bolt heads 31 and insulating members 25 and 27 is the same; and that this width is less than the distance between parallel housing end walls 22 by an amount substantially equal to twice the thickness of end wall lining members 53 shown in Figs. 6 and 7. These end wall lining members 53 are shaped to conform to the shape of end walls 22 and are loosely assembled in position as shown In Fig. 3. Lining members 53 are maintained in position by bolt heads 31 and insulating members 25 and 27, and also by the lower surface of housing cover 40 which is secured in position upon said housing 20 by screws 55. Besides forming a non-conducting lining for the switch housing, these lining \members 53 also prevent the bolt heads from turning when the clamping nuts 36 or 37 are secured in position. These lining members 53 also guide the movable contact 47 during its movement toward and away from the stationary contacts 32.

As switches of this type are generally secured in position upon the floor board of an automobile, the switch embodying the present invention includes a fioor board plate provided with an aperture throu h which the plunger head 44 may project. screws 61 extend through countersunk holes 62 in said floor board plate 60, and cooperate with threaded apertures in cover 40 and housing flange 21 to secure the switch in position upon the automobile floor boa'd shown in section in Figs. 1 and 3 at 0.

From the foregoing description it will be noted that the construction of starting switches has been simplified by the present invention. The terminal bolts serve to carry the stationary switch contacts and also to secure certain of the insulating members in position, hence no other securing devices for these.members are necessary. The switch housing, is provided with downwardly converginglside walls, as viewed in Fig. 1, for the purpose of supporting the terminal bolts in sucha manner that contacting members carried by the heads of these terminal bolts lamping will be close together, and so that the outer extremity of these terminal bolts will be as far apart as possible. By bringing the stationary switch contacts close together the size of the movable switch contact is materially reduced. Since the housing together with its non-conducting linings and the housing cover provide a substantially dust and moisture proof enclosure, it is possible to bring the stationary switch contacts as close together as shown in Fig. 1. By thus constructing the housing so that the outer terminal bolt shanks extend in diverging relation away from the bolt heads and at an angle to the cover or base 40, the outer extremities of the bolts where the wires are to be attached to the switch are located as far apart and as far' from the base as is possible in so compact a switch. This is done in order to assist in preventin accidental shortcircuiting of the switch. hort circuiting of the switch is further prevented by the partition described formed by the outer free ends of nonconducting strips 33.

For convenience, the housing may be termed triangular shaped since its parallel end walls are substantially triangular shaped, and the housing is bounded by the converging walls 23 which may be termed the side walls of the triangle while the cover 40 may be termed the base wall of the triangle. By such an arrangement of walls, the location of the bolt heads in converging relation is very simple, since this is accomplished simply by extending the terminal bolts through the converging side walls and securing them in position with their axes normal to the respective supporting side walls. By such construction and arrangement, specially formed stationary contacts are not needed.

Owing to the fact that the terminal bolts are supported in angular positions relative to each other and to the switch base or floor of the car as contrasted with the parallel placing of these bolts on the same or opposite sides of the switch box in construc- .tions used heretofore, the bolt heads may be brought closer together and the size of the switch box materially reduced with a eater degree of safety against short circuiting a post or wiring thereon onto another post or onto the base of the switch than is obtained in former mechanisms of the same or even larger size. The simplicity of the mechanism, the ease of assembling it, the small size and number of the parts and the fact that substantially all parts may be made by stamping from sheet stock help to materially reduce the cost of manufacture, a consideration of great importance in devices of this type.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described constitutes a preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it is mamas to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

I claim: I a i 1. In an electric switch, the combination I of relatively closely spaced contacts, a part of which are movable and a part stationary; elongated rigid members each supporting one of said contacts, two of said members each consisting of a binding post; and means supporting each of said members in an oblique position'relative to each of the other members, with the wire attaching portions of the posts at the diverging ends of the posts.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of two stationary contacts; a movable contact bridging member; two terminal posts having wire attaching portions and each connected to a stationary contact; and means for engaging said bridging member with said contacts, said means including a contact support movable in a direction oblique to the axes of the terminal posts; and a switch housing enclosing said contacts and supporting said posts in relatively oblique positions on the same side of the switch, the wire attaching portions of said posts extending outside of the housing.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of a switch housing having a base plate; two stationary contacts and a contact bridging member within the housing; means for moving the said member including a part movable at right angles to the base plate;

two terminal posts having wire attaching portions each projecting outwardly from one of said stationary contacts through the switch housing; and means on said housing supporting each of said posts. in angular re- ,lation relative to the base plate and the other post with the wire attaching portions of said posts extending outside said housing.

4. In an electric switch, the combination with a housing having certain opposite walls disposed in converging relation; of switch terminal members supported by said opposite "walls and having contact, portions within said housing arranged in relatively anular relation, each of said contact portions fieing normal to the axis of a terminal member, said terminals extending through said housing in diverging relation relatively to said contact portions; a cover for said housing obliquely disposed to said housing walls; and a movable contact supported by said cover.

5. In an electric switch, the combination with a housing having certain opposite walls disposed in converging relation; of'headed terminal bolts extending through saidwalls and supported thereby, said heads roviding contact portions arranged in re atively angular relation, each of said contact portions being normal-to the axis of a terminal bolt,

the shanks of said bolts extending in diverging relation from said heads whereby to pro vide substantially spaced switch terminals; a cover for said housing obliquely disposed to said housing walls; and a movable contact supported by said cover. 7

6. In an electric switch, the combination with a housing having parallel end walls, and side walls disposed in converging relation; of rectangular-headed terminal bolts extending through said side walls and supported thereby. but insulated therefrom; non-conducting housing lining members conforming with the end walls, said members serving to prevent turning said terminal bolts; a cover for said housing serving also" to maintain said lining members in position; and a movable contact supported by said cover.

7. In an electric switch, the combination with a housing having parallel end walls, and side walls disposed in converging relation; of rectangular-headed terminal bolts extending through said side walls and supported thereby but insulated therefrom; a non-conducting lining member for said housing side walls and apertured to permit said bolts to extend therethrough; clamping nuts cooperating with said terminal bolts to maintain'said lining member in position; non-conducting lining members conforming with the end walls and maintained in position by said side wall lining member; a cover for said housing serving also to maintain said end wall limng members in position; and a movable switch contact supported by said cover.

8. In an electric switch, the combination with a housing having side walls disposed in relatively angular relation; terminal bolts extending through said sidewalls, and supported by said housing but insulated therefrom; non-conducting strips. extending. i

'along the exterior of said sidewalls and then said terminal bolts; clamping nuts cooperating with said bolts for holding said strips in position; a cover for the housing; and a movable contact supported by said cover and arranged tocooperate with said terminal bolts. Q i

9. In an electric switch, the combination with a housing; of switch terminals supported by said housing and extending outside said housing; non-conducting partition means located between said terminals and located outsidesaid housing; common provisions for securing said partition means and said terminals in position; and a movable contact supportedby said housing.

10. In anelectric, switch, the combination'with a housing-having side walls dis-- posed in relatively angular relation; terminal bolts extending through said side walls, and supported by said housing; nonconducting strips extending along the exterior of said side walls, and then with portions thereof extending in parallel relation to provide a non-conducting partition between said terminal bolts; means for holding said strips in position; and a movable contact supported by said housing.

11. In an electric switch, the combination with a housing having certain walls disposed in converging relation; of switch terminal members supported by said opposite walls and providing contact portions within said housing arranged in relatively angular relation, each contact portion being normal to the axis of a terminal member, said terminals extending throu h said housing in diverging relation relatively to said contact portions, and a movable contact supported by said housing and movable in a direction oblique to the axes of both said terminal members.

12. In an electric switch, the combination with a housing; stationary contacts supported thereby comprising contact heads and supporting shanks, said contact heads converging downwardly with said housing and said shanks diverging downwardly through said housing; and a movable contact supported by said housing and movable in a direction oblique to both said supporting shanks.

13. In an electric switch, the combination with a housing; of stationary contacts mounted therein; a rectangular movable contact supported within said housing; and non-conducting members disposed adjacent opposite parallel edges of said movable contact and serving to line the housing and to guide the movable contact.

14. In a switch, a switch box having a pair of opposite walls converging, an insulating lining for the switch box, contacts secured to said converging walls with their contact faces converging, a plunger working in the switch box, a contact member loosely mounted on the plunger and guided by the insulating lining and adapted to be wedged between the converging contact faces.

15. In a switch, a sheet metal plate. having a cavity depressed therein forming a switch box with its end walls converging, contacts secured to said end walls with their contact faces converging, a top plate secured to said plate to form a cover for said switch box, aplunger working through the top plate, a tubular plunger guide secured to the top plate, a cap on the end of the plunger and slidably fitting on the plunger guide, a spring around the plunger bearing on'the cap and the top plate, and a contact member on the plunger within the switch box adapted to be forced thereby into wedging contact with the converging contact faces.

16. In a switch, a switch box having a pair of opposite walls converging, rigid contacts secured to said converging walls with their contact faces converging, and a rigid contact member movably mounted in the switch box to bridge across the converging contact faces.

17. In a switch, a switch box having a pair of opposite walls converging, ri 'd contacts secured to said converging wa ls with their contact faces converging, a plunger working in the switch box, and a rigid contact member mounted thereon with play and adapted to be wedged between the converging contact faces.

18. In a switch, a sheet metal plate having a cavity depressed therein forming a switch box with its end walls converging, rigid contacts secured to the said end walls with their contact faces converging, a top plate secured to said plateto form a cover for said switch box, a plunger working through the top plate, a contact member mounted on the plunger and adapted to be forced there by into wedging contact with the converging contact faces.

19. A switch comprising, in combination, a housing having parallel walls; terminal bolts insulatingly supported by the housing and provided with beads having parallel sides and inclined contact faces; non-couducting housing lining members disposed adjacent opposite parallel sidesof the terminal bolt heads; a cover for said housing serving to maintain said lining members in position; and a movable contact supported by said cover.

20, A switch comprising, in combination, a housing having parallel walls joined by a terminal supporting portion; terminal bolts insulatingly supported by said portion and provided with beads having rectangular bases spaced from the parallel walls and providing contacts; non-conducting lining means for the terminal supporting portion of the housing and apertured to permit the bolts to extend therethrough; clamping nuts cooperating with the bolts to mtaintain the lining means in position; non-conducting linin members for said parallel walls and positioned within the spaces between the bolt heads and the parallel walls; a cover for said housing serving also to maintain the lining members in position between the cover and the lining means; and a switch contact supported by the cover and movable between the lining members into engagement with the terminal bolt contacts.

21. A switch comprising, in combination, a housing; terminal bolts having heads within the housing and threaded shanks extending through a wall of the housing; nonconducting means insulating the bolts fromthe housing and including portions extending along the exterior of the terminal supporting wall, and portions extending from the wall in substantially parallel relation to provide a partition between the terminal bolts; clamping nuts for holding the bolts and insulating means in position; a cover for the housing; and a movable contact supported by said cover and arranged to cooperate with the terminal bolts.

22. A switch comprising,'in combination, a switch box; stationary switch contacts within the box and providing downwardly converging contact faces; insulating lining means for the box; a plunger movable in the switch box; and a contact member loosely mounted on the plunger and guided by the lining and adapted to be wedged between the converging contact faces.

23. A switch comprising, in combination,

a switch case; stationary contacts supported bythe switch case and having contact surfaces which converge downwardly toward the bottom of .the switch case; a movable contact adapted to engage said contact surfaces; a plunger upon which the movable contact is loosely mounted; insulation members located ad acent o posite walls of the switch case and adapte to guide the movable contact and prevent electrical connection between the movable contact and the switch case; and a cover for the switch case and serving to support the plunger and to cooperate with the stationary contacts, to maintain the insulation members in position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

JS B. REPLOGLE. 

